Pavel Martynov exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
A new section should be launched to the Criminal Code of Russia - Corruption Crimes; and punishment for such crimes should be toughened. The head of the State Duma committee on security and prevention of corruption, Irina Yarovaya, who represents United Russia has made this suggestion. This proposal is a reaction to big corruption scandals which shaken the Russian society in November. The anti-corruption campaign began after appearance of information on wide-scale stealing in the Defense Ministry within trading of "non-core" actives of the ministry. Then, the former minister of agriculture Yelena Skrynnik appeared to be out of favor. A series of unmasking and their powerful covering in the mass media made experts say that the campaign is for broad audience, external factor aimed at making the top authorities popular. However, some specialists warned - the campaign is ready to turn into unexpected consequences; unrest within the ruling class began and the struggle for resources became sharp.
Trying to find out what influence the anti-corruption campaign has, Levada-Center conducted the corresponded social poll among 1 500 people from 45 regions of the country in late November.
41% of respondents stated that corruption in the authorities of the country increased in comparison with the situation 10-12 years ago; 43% of respondents think that top officials as corrupted as they have been before.
Moreover, 18% of respondents believe that after return of Vladimir Putin in March 2012 corruption in the government grew; 62% are sure that the corruption level remains the same.
Speaking about prospects of the anti-corruption struggle, 57% of respondents predicted that it won't bring any changes, while 9% think that corruption will improve.
32% agree that the country has no effective system of selection, testing and appointing people to state positions; 43% agree with this, but have some doubts.
33% of respondents believe corruption and abuses by bureaucrats are unavoidable phenomena in the country where the society doesn't control the power, there is no fair elections, free mass media, competition between political parties and organizations. 44% partially agree with this statement.
27% of Russian citizens have no doubts that the current authorities of
the country, trying to hold the power, are relying on personally devoted people only and close eyes on their crimes; 42% of respondents partially agree with this statement.
25% of people are sure that the current campaign on struggle against corruption is conducting in order to distract attention of the population from real problems in economy of Russia and inability of the state to fulfill promises which were given by Putin during the election campaign; 35% of the Russian citizens are agree with it in general.
22% of respondents think that the current anti-corruption campaign is undertaken for improving popularity of Putin and avoiding accusations of establishing the corrupted regime in Russia; 38% are partially agree with this statement.
Only 6% of respondents believe that Vladimir Putin will fulfill his election promises to decrease the corruption level in 2-3 times in future 6 years; 30% hope that it will be so; 36% do not believe in it.
27% of people think that Putin will gain success in the struggle against corruption, if he cleans the top officials' squad and toughens punishment for such crimes.
35% believe that Putin will try to fight corruption, but will fail as corruption is incurable in Russia.
12% predict that Putin won't try hard to fight against corruption as he is involved in it too (or interested in corruption).
47% think that very many Russian top federal bureaucrats, governors, PMs have accounts and property abroad. 40% of respondents believe that there are quite many such officials.
Regarding the certain bill, according to which bureaucrats and PMS should have no property and accounts abroad, 28% of respondents call it an attempt to start real fighting against corruption; 31% believe it is an attempt to control bureaucrats and PMs in a stricter way; 17% are sure that it is another instrument for elimination of unwanted people; 13% think it is an attempt to destruct attention from more important events in the country.
Analyzing the results of the poll, sociologists made a conclusion that the current anti-corruption campaign is decorative and has been started for returning former popularity of the president, but it is too late. Today the anti-corruption campaign poses a risk to the authorities and top officials. In this context President's aides decided to change his image. The image of an alpha male is replaced by an image of a wise patriarch who is not aware of fights between employees.
